Sachsenring MotoGP

understand what was in his head. sorry. The mood he did, it is a

disaster. It is not fair. Casey Stoner has got himself

Casey Stoner has got himself Good morning. Just eight days after

a dramatic Dutch TT, the MotoGP boys are back on track in Germany

for around eight at the Sachsenring circuit. That first corner carnage

eight days ago, well, it bought things tight at the top of the

things tight at the top of the Championship. Casey Stoner's third

win of the season moving him level with Jorge Lorenzo on 140 points.

Lorenza remains on top by virtue of one extra win. He has got firm --

Lorenzo managed to bounce back to remonstrate with about Easter, but

it emerged that he had actually done some damage to his ankle. He

had strained his ligaments. It has seen him hobbling around on

crutches all weekend. But he is good to race.

My ankle is getting better. I feel better. I start to put it around

some signs. On the bike, I feel quite well. I need to use my upper

body more. It will be difficult. A very long day. It is MotoGP. We

have to manage the situation. So he is injured, but seems pretty

fit. Alvaro Bautista, his penalty for causing the crash was to start

on the back of the grid here. You can just see the shot of Bautista,

and we're hoping to get a word with his chief. Some last-minute choices

to be made this weekend because of the rising track temperatures, and

the dry conditions. Let's have a word with Steve and Charlie about

that. Chaps, we have seen four seasons in four sessions. Now the

sun is out. It changes everything. We have had

so much wet weather. Nobody has sorted out their dry weather tyre

choices. Pedrosa has only used soft tyres. It is wide open.

I think most of them will go for the wider -- harder tyres. Most of

the front-runners will. That was the other big story. It

wrecked the podium for Ben Spies. They will be heading for a better

track here. But interesting a dry they were

hard tyres. They got caught with their trousers

down. One or two bits and pieces change the situation. I'm sure they

have got it sorted. A real challenge for the teams to

set up. You would not believe it by today's blue skies, but it has been

more like Silverstone than Sachsenring. We have heard about

the weather for the Formula One. This was Friday. Four seasons in

four sessions. It was really like that.

Look at it. The water is on the track, splashing through. The key

to qualifying was not just waiting until the track dried, but also

having a fresh tyre on. Drivers were going around and around, but

the tyres were worn out. One of the best qualifiers I have ever seen.

You have got to feel sorry for this guy, Nicky Hayden. Five minutes

from the end, he was in pole position. He got unlucky. The boys

that were out there for one more lap, Stoner, Spies, they got an

extra lap. It was all about timing, just

getting the lap in there at the end. We saw Spies getting second place

and starting from the front row. So Casey Stoner starts from the pole

position. It didn't go his way this morning.

It was in turn three, and the lean out, look at this. It was 58

degrees of Danby tyres said, there's no more grip left.

He had the same problem a couple of years back.

It happens to the best. But he will not be but -- daunted

by that. Better to find the limit in the

morning warm-up. Cal Crutchlow will be starting from the second row of

the grid, despite challenging for pole position in the exciting end

to qualifying yesterday. We are still waiting for the first podium.

But his performances have been enough to convince Ducati that he

Ducati are not getting a good reputation at the moment and they

need to do something about it. They think it will take an aggressive

rider to tame the beast, and that is where Cal Crutchlow comes in.

They have been speaking to him about a factory ride.

We are eyeing deep discussions because at the moment there's

nothing for me at Yamaha. You are not going to win a world title on a

factory machine, it is as simple as that. We are looking quite high,

thinking we are going to win the Championship next year. If I did

not went -- 1 to win the Championship, I would not be here.

Next year is unrealistic, but maybe the following year. I could not be

in a factory team for the next two years. But at the moment, we don't

make any decisions. So he could be on his way out. But

Ducati are not only interested in him. There's another British person

he could be riding next year, Scott Redding. Early negotiations are

taking place, but it could be in his current team's colours.

Last year we spoke to Ducati, and this year there are again some

people interested in him. For sure, we are talking and we will see what

is the possibility and if he could Do you think he, as a rider, is

ready for it MotoGP? The class is difficult. We have a

16 Keillor difference. -- 16 kilo. We are trying to find a role for

everybody about the rate. At the moment I am riding the best

I can and not to worry about the future for next year. It is up to

the rest of the team. I have heard things about it. It would be nice

if we could get a Ducati or ride for Ducati or something, just to

get into the class. Do you think you are ready for

MotoGP? I think the last couple of races

have been good for me, for my confidence and learning a bit more

at the higher end of racing. I think by the end of the year, if we

carry on in this direction, it would be nice to go that way, and I

don't think... If we can keep riding this way, we will be up

there. They are both up for the challenge,

and both aggressive riders. But if it really what the bike needs?

I don't think there's anyone riding style that works, it is the people

riding it. So many people want to change the bike to suit them, and

when I was with Ducati, we didn't have a new parts to make the bike

different and suit us more. We had to adapt ourselves. That is the

most important thing. It is nothing to do with the riding style. It is

whether the rider can adapt. Casey Stoner certainly knows what

it takes to make the Ducati a winner. He was the last rider to do

so, back in 2010. Can he do it? I honestly think Crutchlow can do

it. He has got confidence. He believes in himself. He says he

wants to be on a factory bike and that is the only chance he has got.

Yeah, he can do it. The bike can be sorted out and I agree with Casey

Stoner, you have got to adapt yourself. Sometimes I'll docks

can't get new tricks, and he is proof of that.

He also does not come to it with any preconceptions. He thinks he

can ride, so he probably can. I think that was the point that

Casey was making. Scott Redding, he is a new dog and he is a pedigree.

He is be youngest ever winner in his class. He is a real talent.

A pedigree, but he is a great Dane racing against small animals. It is

just nuts. I don't know why they don't change the rules and make

them carry some weight. We do need youngsters in MotoGP.

There's too many old guides. It would be great for him to be coming

And big bikes with horsepower, that is really going to help Scott

Redding. We should not forget Bradley Smith.

In theory he has signed a deal to move into that tech three squad. We

don't know about that. We have really got some bright talent

coming through. Bradley is on the up. He has

mastered his starts. He just needs a bit more consistency. But he is

good. We have had a paucity of British

riders in the class, and now we have got so many coming through.

Talk about that. We have waited long enough in Britain for a great

hope, and now in Germany they have waited a long than they have got

one, this guy right behind us, Stefan Bradl. What do you make of

him and all the expectation on him? They are putting it harder rear

Taiwan. They are now putting one of the harder ones on. -- putting a

harder rear tyre on. Those massive corners, you are

really going to need something like that. He is the reigning MotoGP

champion, that ain't easy. He is the real deal.

There he goes. We are going to join him on the grid pretty shoo-in. --

pretty soon. It is a great track. We are going to have 30 laps. The

riders love it, the Young ones and the old ones.

Sachsenring. I love the place. It is the second shortest track we go

to. I have got to tell you, I love this place. It has got so many

elevation changes. The only short part is behind me, the straight. It

is 0.8 miles long. But they are still getting up to 185 mph. At the

start, it is always a mess, but I'm sure that Alvaro Bautista will be

keeping out of trouble at the back. This is why the past -- where the

tired Torgeir starts. -- this is where the tyre torture starts. We

talk about a symmetric tyres. They are going to get a work out this

weekend. The left side has to cope with the corners. The right side

has to be very soft because of all the heat in the other side. This is

it, turn number 11. After being on the left hand of the tyre for six

corners, you get to this one over the crest of the hill. It is one of

the most daunting corners. You hope the tyre is warm enough on the

right. Last year, so many guys got caught out and ended up in the

gravel. So this is the view you get if you

get around 1011 safely. The drop down to turn 12 is amazing. It is

difficult to show on TV, but just Great stuff. I think it is still

rolling, that tyre! We are on the grid. We are catching up with

Everything that was than in qualifying does not count because

we're at the back of the grid. looks like we have to play a

different game. Everyone will start with the harder rear tyre, so we

will start with the softer one. We have to play something different in

this position. It will be difficult, but after two laps, our idea is to

overtake and try to be as close as possible to the second great. The

target is to take the maximum points today. Obviously a large

gamble with the tyres. The way the conditions are, it is the first dry

session for this race, but I guess you have to take that gamble?

our situation, we never tried to the hard one. The initial potential

is the most important. At the moment, in this situation, we need

the initial potential. This is a recommendation from Bridgestone. I

believe in the soft tyre working very well at higher temperatures.

But now it has become cloudy, maybe this is a good point for us. It

good luck. An unusual position for Alvaro. He

was in this one a few weeks ago at Silverstone. Casey Stoner is here

today. It is your third mac -- it is your third pole of this season.

How come you have not come round to see me in the motor home? I came

this morning but you were not there. It has been a difficult weekend.

Weather conditions have been playing havoc. It ended up working

out for us in the wet and now we have got to race in the drive. I

had a slept this morning but it was on the slow as part of the tracks

so it is all good. Have you got a bit of a cold, you sound blocked

up? Yes, this is me much better today! On Thursday I was not

feeling very flash at all. Three we have good hopes. I had better leave

you before I catch something. Good luck. Casey Stoner, the top man on

the grid today. You have the best grid position so

far. How are you feeling for the race? We did a great qualifying

yesterday. I feel comfortable with the bike. But this is different, it

is dry. We will have to work hard to finish again. Last time you had

problems with the engine. You lost eight points in the CRT

championship. You will need to gain that back? Yes, we did well at the

beginning of this season. But he brought his engine in Spain, and I

broke mine last week. Good luck. We will go some rows back to Mattia

Pasini who had a very strange crash. He was coming into the pit lane

slowly and a mechanic actually stepped out and knocked him out.

Both of them went down. Mattia Pasini was knocked out for a little

bit but he was back for qualifying two. We are with him now on the

grid. We saw the crash that he had but no lasting injuries from that?

No serious injuries, but some pain. The but we will see the race now,

it is long. You have one here in 125 cc before, but this is a

completely different ball game. What is the plan for the race?

plan for the race is attack and try to fight for her at winning the CRT.

We will see. We do not ride much on dry conditions, it is new for us.

We will see during the race the conditions with the bike. Thank you,

good luck. That will be an interesting battle,

the fight around this twisty circuit. Dani Pedrosa on the front

row, the winner at this circuit for the past two years, yet to win this

season, but this is the fifth time he has had a front-row start in

2012. I will grab a word with his manager. How is he looking, we have

not had much a dry track time but he has looked strong? It has been

the same track time as all the other guys. It was difficult in

qualifying, but we are looking pretty good and we are confident

for the race. We have had good experiences in the past but we will

go for the victory. He has won in the past two years. What does he

like about the circuit? I do not know. It will be difficult with all

these riders. Casey Stoner and Jorge will push, but we will try.

am sure that you will not be able to tell us anything for certain,

but we're hoping to hear something with Dani and Repsol handed in the

future, are you close to a deal? Yes, I think we will close the deal

soon and we are happy with that. -- Repsol Hondas. One of my favourite

people to speak to on the grid. Colin Edwards, not a bad grid

position. You were struggling in the dry conditions but OK in the

wet. Yes, we had good pace in the dry conditions, but massive

problems on the wet. I think we're going to be all right. I got that

the wrong way around, then! Nick you have been struggling a little

on this bike, but you seem to have found something. Oh OK, I will

agree with you! On this track, that you are on one side of the tyre for

a long time. This track has a tendency to pull people tighter

than reality, but we are looking OK. On to the second row with Jorge

Lorenzo. Here are his final pre- race preparations. He has told us

that he likes to listen to Phil Collins or the Red Hot chilli

peppers. What do you reckon? I am going with Phil Collins, he is

chilled out. Let's move on to the second row. That is Jorge's lowest

grid position of the season. Ahead of 10 in fourth place is Cal

Crutchlow. I am normally way of speaking to him because he normally

has something lined up for me. I am going to catch him by surprise

today. Let's see if we can get a quick word. My mum told me that I

am not to speak to you on the grid before but just a quick word. You

are close to the top three guys again today? Yes, it is nice to be

up there at a circuit where you were useless at last year. We will

see in the race, because we have all been forced to use the hard

tyre. I look forward to it. How is your day going? It is pretty good

so far. Blue, brown, blue and orange. You know me, I bring

something for every occasion. may need it because it is raining

already. I have got aback up. Let's hope that Cal Crutchlow has a back-

up as well. We could end up with a flag to fly grace, and we have not

had one of those since 2009. That is what will have been that if

these clips are to break. -- flag to flag race. James Ellison is

another British rider who has had a good weekend.

Yes, very nearly atop finish in the rain yesterday. But it is trying

now, what is the feeling? We had a disaster recession in qualifying.

In the wet we were going really well, but we had technical problems

with the bikes and we just missed out. I went from 12th place into

20th, so it is a bit depressing. We have not had much time in dry

conditions, but the lads have given me a good bike. I will do my best

and see what happens. Your team were doing a bit of a rain dance,

is that on your mind? I would prefer it to stay dry. We go well

in the wet conditions, but I need to get some decent dry conditions

time. We are about to clear the grid so I will let you get on. Good

luck. Good luck to the British boys today.

All the eyes at Sachsenring are on that man there, Stefan Bradl, who

starts from the second row for the second race in succession. Everyone

is expecting a big performance from Stefan Bradl but with no set up

time and the clouds over the top, it is one of these days when

anything could happen. Here is the track. It is tight and twisting.

There is the first turn. It drops all the way down the hill to the

third turn. The bottom end of that corner, that is where Casey Stoner

tipped it over. That is where all the left-hand turns go. Left, left,

the left-hand turns go. Left, left, left, then there is the right hand

corner and it plummets down the hill. Three the plummet down hill

is enormous and then it is another corner. There is an uphill drag to

the line. It is a monster circuit. Lots of action on that last corner

as well. The finish line is a long way back from the corner. You have

got to watch for that first turn as well, because it tightens and

tightens further. Here is the grade. It is a great spot for Cal

Crutchlow. Disappointing for a Nicky Hayden on road three because

he was out of luck yesterday. He was faster than his team-mate. He

was the fastest Ducatis. Espargaro is in very good touch indeed. Then

the rest of the boys are lining up. I tell you what, this weather looks

dodgy. It is scary times for the riders, it is horrible. It has

started to rain as you have when tide. If it starts raining and the

riders decide that the track is too slippery and they are losing too

much time with slick tyres, they can come into the pit lane and

their spare bike will be sat there with wet tyres on it. The teams are

out there now changing their bikes. It will take about 10 minutes to

get back to wet settings. Those bikes will be lined up outside the

garage in readiness in case it garage in readiness in case it

starts to rain heavily. At the moment, it is slick tyres, but it

is a tricky situation. We will see a white flag with a Red Cross and

it from the marshals if it starts to rain to indicate that they can

change their bikes. We have seen the elevation change which is

significant. Third this is Alvaro Bautista. Watch for him coming

through because he is a MotoGP rider. He is normally starting from

the back. I think he will be tiptoeing past people. I think he

will on turn 1. Look at the crowds, lots of people coming from Eastern

Europe. Bautista, for him, passing the CRT bike should not be too much

of an issue. I would expect Bautista to be our been to 12th

position by lap two. It is a Mike teased circuit. -- a mighty. It is

very hard for people to shake each other off. You often get a close

race. That is the start line and it is some way up the track from where

the finishing line is, so they do not have added run until the first

much. They are way. A good start from

Spies. Speed is looking good. Stoner could be hung out to drive.

Stoner just got in front of Spies. That was where the left-hand side

of the tyres got tortured. Up the hill, and keep your fingers

crossed for the first right hand. A bit of a bumpy one. It really is

steep. Crutchlow started fourth, say he is

behind a couple of guys. He is Valentino Rossi.

A lot of talk about who is going to ride what bike. Spies has not done

his deal yet, but it looks like he traditional passing place, but he

has done it. Job done. Charlie, that was very impressive. He got

the grip. He charged down the inside of Dani Pedrosa. Pretty

impressive stuff from the world champion, who wants to retire this

year with the number one position. It is Stoner, Pedrosa, Spies still

holding off Lorenzo, and then Dovizioso behind.

The fastest lap was from Casey Stoner. He is looking good at the

team-mate, Michele Pirro, has got some problems. That is another one

out of James Ellison's way. You can't do justice to that corner. It

is so scary to watch. Stoner is trying to break everybody early.

Stefan Bradl, the local hero, is under a lot of pressure. Everybody

wants a piece of the action from him. A lot of talk about to catty

wanting him, not this year. -- Ducati wanting him.

He will be OK now. The butterflies will have simmered down. He can

forget all the pressure and try to get some good laps in. He is

holding his own. The start by Dovizioso was good. Not a bad job.

Already the two Honda guys are but he is where you would expect.

Stoner is nailing his laps. The lap record here was said by Dani

Pedrosa. They have not had the practice time to get these bikes

at riding one of these bikes. It looks like Honda has addressed the

chatter issue -- chassis issue. Every time I walk past their garage,

-- the scary one. I always have a sense of foreboding

here, because it is such a circuit that can really suck you in.

Lorenzo has dispatched Spies, so normal order has been resumed.

Looks like when, not if, for the throttle connection on the

bikes sounds and feels so good. That is what it is all about with a

motorcycle. That is where it all happened. Ben

Spies, he had a nightmare. What is going on?

Mattia Pasini, he said he was going to go hard. He certainly did. He

has attacked the ground. You can't win doing that. It is a circuit

that sucks people in. You can have the most astonishing crashes near

the end of the race. Watching these people, you forget

how much they are on the limit. The bike is sliding around. Back to

these Hondas, it has... You have only got to be out on the circuit

listening to know that the throttle connection is so good. The

transition is so good with the Honda.

You are on a role to date, mate. -- on a roll today. Pirro was having a

Alvaro Bautista or has come right through the bikes. That is

ostensibly a factory bike. But the interesting thing, to me, is it is

the only one of the customer satellite bikes with that

suspension. It is a bit of a test by, as far as I can see, to try out

a different braking system. -- a test bike.

It has not really worked for him. His best chance was last weekend,

when he was looking to be good. It all went wrong. He has been a

naughty boy and was penalised. That is now over and done with four-star

Cal Crutchlow has closed the gap on people being a naughty boy. This is

Cal Crutchlow, trying, trying, trying. Boy, that was close. They

do tend to wear each other out, though his team mates. -- with

those team-mates. So, the speculation on Crutchlow.

I think it is a good move, and it is a done deal. He can't sit around

waiting for Yamaha. He might as well have a shot on a factory

machine. It should be well sorted out. It

took BMW a while in Superbikes, but they got there. The fight is still

going on. We saw Dovizioso go past Crutchlow. It is all shuffling

around. They have caught Ben Spies space over Cal Crutchlow, who has

got to deal with Ben Spies. It is saw from Casey Stoner. Annoyed that

Dovizioso has got through. It is a hard place to pass. There

are a couple of obvious spots. But the fiddly stuff, it is tricky.

He has got his leg out, watch the bumps. He has kept it nice and

tight. He has done its. Crutchlow is through.

He just carried it there. It was close but he managed to get it up.

Spies was not caught napping, but the bits you caught him out. --

You have got to feel for Ben Spies. for him. He has got to try to stay

in touch. He has to hope they don't drive away from him. Stoner is not

driving away from Pedrosa, either. Pedrosa is doing a great job.

Stoner is trying to break him, and it has not worked.

If we were to rewind one week, Pedrosa led the race until about

four laps from the end. He said he wore himself out trying to stay in

front. Stoner came in fresh. So now he is trying to save energy.

Casey was saying that... Oh, I bit of a moment there. He said he does

not find it quite as taxing. But will be comfortably leading the

points Championship by more than Crutchlow down the bottom of this

circuit. This is where we saw Casey Stoner line-up Dani Pedrosa, but it

is no mean feat to get it through there. It looks like he has really

got his eyes on this, this time. Crutchlow can taste it but he just

It is about getting out if you, getting to the front, doing

everything you can. The more you keeper down, the less the engine

will cut back. If you make a mess of a pass and get it wrong, it

murders you, because it is up hills. You can lose four bike lengths. He

wisely fell back and can think about it again. This is the battle

for fourth place. Cal Crutchlow is in fourth place, Dovizioso is fit.

-- Dovizioso is in position number five. Dovizioso is so fast through

these left-handers. My goodness! He was so close. All the factory bikes

are run the same compound tyres. He has got the run, as he has got the

inside line, but he does not have the brakes are the confidence to do

it going into the corner. You have got to be late on the brakes,

because Dovizioso is a master of jamming the brakes on Lake. Going

back to the tyres, they do not all run the same settings. They do not

have the same riding style. Some had tier issues at Assen and others

did not. The 18 laps remaining in this race. -- 18 laps. We just off

Hector Barbera, as he is in front of Nicky Hayden. He is having a

jolly good run indeed. He is making the factory boys look silly. James

Ellison in fifth position. That is good, as he has made some headway.

Colin Edwards, as he was speaking about the fact that he was having a

nightmare at Assen. It was just terrible, but all of a sudden, as

he is comfortable with the bike, and it is all to do with the brand

new mapping programme they have got. I think they sorted some of the

mapping programme and eight in the wet conditions. When you turn the

throttle on, you do not need massive power coming out as it

fires up. A nothing much in it, 0.5 seconds. They are virtually setting

the same times. About one-tenth of a second faster for Casey Stoner

that time. This battle between Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow is

allowing Ben Spies to close up on the Yamahas. The second one is very

much in that battle again. It is great to see these independent

teams doing so well. Pramac are in front of the factory Ducatis.

Ducatis are doing a reasonable job, hanging on, they are closing the

gap. At the start of the year, they were finishing further back.

any more. You are riding with the He makes it ever so hard.

Crutchlow has the corner speed, but there is a bike that looks like a

mirror in front of him, because it is the same as his. Cal Crutchlow

has either got to force Dovizioso into a mistake, but he is unlikely

to do that. For Cal Crutchlow can carry the corner speed, but it does

not help. That time around, as he was laid on the apex of the corner.

You can see how much it has cost him, a couple of bright light -- a

couple of bike lengths. Dani Pedrosa is like a limpet. Here is

the start again. Later at Dovizioso. He switches to the inside. It is a

good move from Dovizioso. A bit of experience down the inside. So,

Dani Pedrosa. We look back from pole position, certainly from Dani

Pedrosa. He comes out of their straight past everyone. That was a

good move from Casey Stoner. Casey Stoner will be looking at his pit

board every lap around. It is 0.3 of the second, but that equates to

plus nothing on a bit bored. Back to these two guys and their riding

style. Casey Stoner tends to suffer more because of his riding style.

Dani Pedrosa does not hang off the bike quite as much. A lot of it is

down to a engine management systems. There are all sorts of issues and

all sorts of chatter around. It can start at the rear or the front.

Look at the bike, trying to change direction at 130 mph. There is so

much jarring effect from the wheels that the bike wants to go straight.

15 laps to go, have race distance and we have a race on. These two

are the class at Eck -- these two are the class act in the field. I

love the sound of them, listen to them echoing off each other.

ENGINES ROAR. While you're doing all of that, you have got to read

there being flung by Casey Stoner. You can see the angle there, it is

about 57 degrees. There was a tiny contact there. Casey Stoner is

using the inside cars. He just likes to make a little bit of that

curve to open it up a tiny bit more. -- nick a little bit. We are going

to have to speak soon, we have to. It is just too good to watch, I do

not want to spoil it. Dani Pedrosa appears to be holding his line,

which is often an indication that he is cruising. It looks like he

has the job weighed up. But lots of things change, the amount of fuel

changes, they start with 21 litres but they are probably down to a

living at this point in the race. There is tired degradation, they

will not be as hot as they were earlier on. In terms of consumables,

Casey Stoner will always be heavier run them den Pedrosa. He will

finish with less tyre for certain because he pushes the bike so hard.

He is only one-tenth of a second behind at Pedrosa knife. -- now. Do

not forget, Pedrosa is good around the circuit. The only man who has

done more winning him at -- a more winning than hem is Valentino Rossi.

They have a bit bored telling them that they are plus six seconds in

front of third place, Jorge Lorenzo. If he wanted to, Casey Stoner could

back Pedrosa down. You were saying about consumables, and of course,

Dani Pedrosa is light, so he tends to lay less rubber down on the

track. He is having a look! It is this a dress rehearsal on the real

deal? Casey Stoner tries to cut back. We will find out whether

Casey Stoner things, you lead from here and I will have a rest, if he

has just had to give best. I think Casey Stoner has decided that this

work last week. But we do not know, nobody knows. Only Casey Stoner

knows. I reckon it looks like Pedrosa has got this nailed. We are

looking at the right hand side of the tyre, the soft side. He is

trying. We will see what sort of lap time Dani Pedrosa can lay down.

He will not have seen that moment Casey Stoner hand. It will be very

much in Casey Stoner's mind. That gap will be four-tenths of a second

by the time we get across the finish line. Can Casey Stoner bring

it back are has a Dani Pedrosa hit the sweet spot yet again at

Sachsenring? Gear the championship points are 25 for victory, 16 for a

second and 10 for third. Casey Stoner has regrouped. I do not know

whether he has just relax, but the bike tried to jump out from

underneath him. -- at relaxed. Pedrosa, this would really close to

him up as well. This would really bring him into touch with those two

league guys. There is nothing in it. Pedrosa just put in a fast lap.

Casey Stoner has now responded and he is right with him. I do not

think that either of them will know what the other one has got. Come on,

what is going to happen? Now I have seen Casey Stoner poll that back, I

think Casey Stoner has slowed it down and let Dani Pedrosa to go

through to see what he had, and Casey Stoner is now going to

regroup and four laps from the end, as he will have another push.

you can give me the lottery numbers, I would appreciate that as well! We

are into the last third of the race now. Casey Stoner is probing, but

not quite close enough. He looked like he braked early there. That is

one of those corners that a few going wide, you get a better exit I

to fit. It is a strange double apex. -- a better exit from it. This is

the start of the left-handers. the time these guys finish the race,

the left-hand side of the tyre looks like it has been attacked by

an angle grinder. You can see the right hand side of the tyre when

you look closely at the rear tyre. It is stuffed up more, and that is

the soft compound. It only gets used at three corners around this

track. The body language says I might come past year I can. Further

down the road, Cal Crutchlow is one-tenth behind Dovizioso. That

was very strong. Casey Stoner is now pressing on, trying to find a

way past. He has decided that following does not suit. It is

dress rehearsals every single time. Casey Stoner is normally stronger

of the two on the brakes. Did you see the LAT port? Plus seven

Jorge Lorenzo and you are seven seconds down the road from the

Hondas? You going to feel a bit cross.

I think he was cross with his manager. He fired him. The Yamaha

should be suited to this track. We know how agile the bike is. He has

just signed another contract with Yamaha. Seven seconds back is a

long way. He has been lapping 0.5 seconds slower than the Hondas. I

had a feeling the Hondas are not going to their limit.

That is pretty disappointing. They are the class in the field. Lorenzo

is the class of the Yamaha riders. Just looking across the pit lane, I

can see some bikes being warmed up with the wet tyres. It would have

to rain heavily to warrant them coming in. But they keep them warm

up in case they have to come in and This is where Pedrosa did it.

I think Casey Stoner... It was a nip and tuck. I think it was a lead

through, myself. He is monitoring the situation. Former prolapse for

your property to come true. -- four laps. Lots of bombs there. Still

rolling downhill. -- lot of bumps The clouds are coming in from the

West. They will be abreast of that. If it starts to rain, you can lose

it. Lorenzo leading the world Championship on the same points as

Casey Stoner, who is currently in second.

If they finish in their current order, he will only drop four

points. Dovizioso is still holding Crutchlow at bay. Crutchlow is

containing the efforts of Ben Spies. Really, really, really quick is Cal

Crutchlow through this. Oh, that was big. He has got the corner

speed. There's a bike in the middle of the

apex for Crutchlow every time. If he could get past Dovizioso, he

could get past it. This is the best opportunity. Ben Spies wants a bit

more of this. He could be a real spoiler in this battle. Bear in

mind, Steve, Cal Crutchlow leads the left, Chrysler has the

advantage. -- Crutchlow. The fact that bike

number 11 has closed up on those two bikes shows that Dovizioso is

holding up Cal Crutchlow. Pedrosa is doing a mean job of holding off

the reigning world champion, Stoner. He is in the same machinery. You

can hardly see Crutchlow. It looks like one bike. Maybe this time...

Come on, come on! Not quite close enough.

He needs that like a third armpit. He has lost a spot to Spies.

his tyres are dirty. He has just blown that one.

That was a huge penalty. The back wheel came up in the end.

He nearly ran into the back of Dovizioso at the final corner. He

can't believe what he has just seen. It was a big move to try to make up

a bit of room. The real will just popped up in the air, had to just

ease the brakes a touch, missed the apex and ran deep. Now he is way

back down there. That was Carsley. But fair play to

him, you have got to try. -- that enough to carry him into the debt.

scratching his head, thinking about the performance of the Hondas.

Stone-age trying to get through the that Australians leave? --

the limit. Close through the bottom left hander. Pedrosa was great out

of here. This is where you have got to try

something up his sleeve. Even his insouciant wife is looking

mildly concerned about the job he has got to do. This is great for

Stoner if he can get past his team- mate. The long, long series of

downhill corners. Plenty of wants to close, close, close. He

lost ground, so it is not going to got out of the way. That right hand

truck from Stoner, it had real attitude about it. Pedrosa is

holding him at bay. The tyres are spent now. Stoner,

you would say, is better at running Barbera. He is up into seventh.

That is a right old pack of trouble there. I don't know what Nicky

Hayden has done wrong, but he is at the back of the pack that he led.

Rossi now trying to spoil the parade. Can Stefan Bradl hang on

for a top-six finish? It would be a huge result for him. Rossi, a

master at tactics at the end of the race, will have something left.

It is a Herculean effort from Valentino Rossi. Oh, boy.

My prediction was wrong. Valentino Rossi...

A Stefan Bradl comes back! came out of there 35 too-tight and

will not have the pace up the hill. Impressive stuff. It looks like

Dani Pedrosa has got it. I think Stoner thought he had more tyre

left. That shows how hard Pedrosa is

pushing. If Honda haven't signed him, they want to sign him now.

Just a few more corners, not laps. Stoner is down! That has torn it!

Unbelievable acts like I told do this place sucks people in! --

unbelievable! I told you this place that people in! Lorenzo moves back

in the lead. Pedrosa gets his first win of the season. He will not

realise Christmas has come early yet. That is just unbelievable.

Phenomenal, really. Stoner is walking back. No points for him.

How about that? It is just starting to rain, too. Boy, oh boy, look,

Stefan Bradl has finished fifth. Was there a few spots of rain on

the corner? The rain is coming down. Stoner and Lorenzo, mate, they are

all square now. Everything goes is just as damaging, Steve. Like I

said, there's the points. Stoner is now back in third in the

Championship. Go figure. How about that? It will be

interesting to talk to Casey Stoner. I wonder if a few spots of rain on

the corner... It looked like he had given up. Just coming in there, the

front just fault out from underneath. -- folds out.

He had four corners left. Four corners for 20 points. Five points

per corner. Gone. He ends with nothing. Extraordinary.

The bike did not even begin. No words for that. That is astounding.

But it is the nature of this circuit. Pedrosa or, that is a hat-

trick for him. Fair play to him. Good stuff. He was not given that.

He won it fair and square. The guys are waiting for Casey Stoner to

come around. Their jaws nearly hit the floor.

Jorge Lorenzo's jaws are going to hit the floor.

That was lucky for him. Valentino Rossi, be congratulations.

He had a be left. But what about Dovizioso? On the podium again.

Crutchlow will be kicking himself. He could have been on the podium if

he had got past Dovizioso. But it never fails to surprise, this

Championship. As I said before, something always happens at this

The rain just came at the end. The last lap of the race. Do you think

it caught him? I think it probably did. Casey Stoner rides to the

limit and I think there were a few spots of rain there. I'm sure we

will find out in the interview. Lorenzo having proof positive that

there is agog. Taking out a week ago, now he gets the present return

but by the man who was leading the championship, was about to. This is

with four corners left. On the hill, he was solo. He almost caressed the

ground he was so far over. Stefan Bradl, Nice Work. A in the top five,

as he will be pleased with that. It will give the local fans something

to cheer about that. That will improve the trade index of Dani

Pedrosa value. We heard from his manager that they are about to sort

out the contract and I heard that that will happen at the start of

the weekend. Everyone crowding around Stefan Bradl. Nice to see

anyone doing well at their home Grand Prix. He has a lovely crew

around him, a great bunch of people. It is good to see them deliver a

good result at their home Grand Prix.

He has just told me it was raining towards the end. Danny, you were

pushing all the way, the fastest lap coming at the end. Yes, I knew

I had the pace for the race. We changed many things on the bike. I

was not very comfortable at the beginning, because of all the

changes. A little later, I saw I was getting more comfortable on the

bike and I could understand more what it was doing. Then I decided

to pass Casey Stoner in the middle of the race. I tried to pull back,

he was completely behind, as he was full-on today. We have to fight for

the victory here, but I knew that I had good braking. So it was not

easy for him to match me. At the end, I tried to block the inside

and the victory came, finally. So I am happy. Congratulations.

am happy. Congratulations. That was a great ride from him and

Lorenzo, who we can see in the foreground, will just be chuffed to

bits. I of the doldrums. Now she can think to himself, OK, I have

still got the championship in my pocket. Yes. That was an early

Christmas present, what a surprise. Jorge, congratulations, how things

can change in one race. Yes, things can change completely in two races.

We lost an engine and we lost. Last week. We were very disappointed.

Today we have had luck from Casey Stoner's crash. Today I was lucky

to finish because the bike and the rear tyre was not so good.

Congratulations. He is 20 points lucky. He now leads

He is 20 points lucky. He now leads the championship with 160 points.

Pedrosa moving in front of his team mate in second place. Casey Stoner

stays on 140. Talk about swings and roundabouts. It was so close. I

would be really interested to get a chance to speak to Casey Stoner.

would not want to be trying to console him at the moment. There is

nothing you can say. There is nothing you can say. There is

absolutely nothing you can say. podium position for Dovizioso. That

podium position for Dovizioso. That was a bit of a surprise. Yes, the

third one of the season. Congratulations. It was nervous out

there with the guys behind you and the rain. Yes, especially when you

have to finish the race with Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow. They try

to overtake you. I was trying to concentrate to keep the same lap

time. I knew everyone was struggling at the end so it was

difficult for me. This result is really important for us. I cannot

remember if I have even made a podium at this circuit. It is

important for the championship for next year and now we're going to

Italy, so why am happy. Congratulations.

Fantastic work from Dovizioso, who saw them off. But as you say,

partner, you never know what is going to happen in motor-racing. I

could not have forecast that for all the money in the world.

You have got to wonder, Casey Stoner would have been 20 points in

the lead at the top of the championship, and now he will be 20

points behind. You wonder, when we get to Valencia, how much he will

regret that moment. We do not know if there was water

on the track. Randy De Puniet, a great job from him. Knocking on the

door of the top 10 places. That was the move. A great victory for

Pedrosa. His certainly was. We're going to

have to leave at the Sachsenring to join the Formula One team at